This topic, tips for restaurant servers, is a really contentious topic. Most people leave tips at restaurants and many leave the standard 15% whether they are happy with the service or the food. They just do not want the hassle of dealing with a server who might show their annoyance because of a low tip. We know people in the industry and they are adamant that you should always leave a tip regardless. The servers rely on this income since they receive minimum wage or no wage at all. Tips can be a huge source of income for these people. The unfortunate thing is that some of these servers, especially the younger ones feel that they are entitled to a large tip regardless of the level of service they provide.

Tips for Restaurant Servers – An Example of Excellent Service

Here is an example of what we mean by really good service. You go to a coffee shop and the server fills your coffee mug and servers it to you at the cash. Should you provide them with a tip when they just did their job and did nothing special? At another coffee shop the server takes a mug, fills it with hot water to warm up the cup, pours the water out and then fills the mug with hot coffee. Should you tip this person? We think that they are very deserving of a tip, much more so than the first server. We always tip the second server and never the first because they also do not even acknowledge their customers, nor do they say thank you ever. Our excellent server will also bring us our coffee to the table if she happens to be busy as well.

Some might argue that if we tipped we might get better service in our example above. In some cases we would but at most coffee shops they are just kids who do not know the first thing about service.

Guidelines for Tipping for Restaurant Servers

We suggest that the following guidelines might be used to help people decide if they should tip and how much. Start with the standard of 15% and if they measure up in terms of service, timeliness of food delivery, attention to your order, follow up in a timely manner to ensure that you have everything to enjoy your meal and provide friendly service they should receive the standard 15% tip.

If you have to wait a long time for your drinks, the food is served cold, they mix the orders up or they are very unfriendly, well I would really consider a much lower tip depending on how poor the service actually was. If they are able to do something special which please your group and is appreciated, then why not tip them more. You might even provide a large tip if you feel that they deserve such a large tip.

Would You Leave a Zero Tip

Not too many people will leave a zero tip. They just do not want to risk the confrontation or potential confrontation. However the service industry needs to understand that they are on the job to provide good friendly service. I believe that we as patrons should treat them in a professional manner. If the service is not great, I think that we should let them know verbally in a nice way and that they still will receive a tip, but a little less than 15%. In the future if the service has not improved, then this is the time to reduce the tip even further.

I always tip the lady that serves me a coffee in a mug that has been pre-warmed with hot water. She is only serving coffee. But she makes sure that her customer receives really great service and a hot cup of coffee every time. That deserves a tip in my mind.

In Canada, there are a lot of people who are in their teens working in the service industry. They are too young to understand what it means to provide great service vs. average service. In the US, I have found in our travels more older people who have made it their profession and take providing good service seriously. They understand that good service directly impacts their incomes and they generally provide great service.

That’s my opinion, let me know if you agree or disagree about tips for restaurant servers. For more thoughts on tipping, click here.

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Going river water rafting can be one of the most exciting things that you do. Whether it is part of a guided tour, or out there on your own with a group of friends the thrill of white water, the scenery and the sheer experience will be something you remember for the rest of your life. Go with some friends. It is just as much fun to share the experience as it is to go on the trip it self. You will be talking about your raft trip for many years ! The adrenaline rush from your trip will be appreciated too and remembered for many years. Many people will update their social media with videos of these trips.

River Water Rafting – Safety

One side point that we want to make for safety reasons is that consumers who do go river water rafting should always go with a group or at least one other person and that they should always tell someone who will not be with them were they are going and when they are expected to return. they should also be experienced or have an experienced guide who is familiar with the river to go along with them. Pay attention to your guide and when they tell you to do something follow through with what they are saying. It could be your life or that of your friends if you do not follow the instructions.

If an accident occurs, at least your friends and family will know when and where to begin looking for you. Many people have lost their lives, simply because they did not tell anyone where they were going. Search parties eventually find them, but by then it is too late. If only they had told someone where they were going. They can also lose their lives if they are drinking and cannot respond quickly to dangerous situations.  Avoid drinking alcohol while on a river water rafting trip.

River Water Rafting – Water Levels

There are various levels of river water rafting and most companies providing guided tours will rate their rivers to indicate the skill level needed for their guests. These rivers can change daily due to run off from snow melt, due to storms in the area increasing the runoff and even release of water through dams to lower the level of water above the dam.

Check often with your guides to make sure that your skill level will match the rivers white water on the day you plan to go. The flow on the river can change on a daily basis based on water releases from dams, storms well up river and even temperature changes that can influence snow melt.

Attendees at a recent Hotel U presentation in Puerto Vallarta  were promised large 1900 sq ft suits, concierge service and 40,000 cash back two year guarantee. In turn they could buy a 15 year plan to use 4 weeks a year. The company would buy back 3 weeks at 1500 a week to sell to casino users so it would only cost $820 for the first week.

They said they will start building the Hotel U the first thing in Jan 7/12. The grand opening would be Dec 12 , 2012 for the first unit. As a founding member they would also receive one round of free golf a week.

Hotel U Puerto Vallarta – Comments

Comments on this post urged potential clients to run away as fast they could. That pitch is very similar to the spiel that was given to buyers at the Belaire. Before it was rebranded the “U”. There’s a good chance that somewhere in the background the same people are still running the show here. They’re just recycling the same old operation under a new name. Be careful and avoid this sort of sales pitch.

Additional comments that we read indicated even if this were now a legitimate operation it would still be a bad deal. This is an overpriced property in an inferior location. A first class resort, as they try to paint themselves, is not going to be located next to an airport and away from the beach. Vacationers coming to Puerto Vallarta for the level of accommodations purported for the Belaire/”U” will at a minimum want a resort on the beach, not inland.

Review the Law

The laws in Mexico are not the same as other countries. Foreigners must be very careful when they are buying property in this country or any other foreign country. Make sure that you have a good lawyer to represent you. In addition make sure that you have a clear title to your property.

Many make assumptions that property is handled in the same manner as in your own country. You may find that those assumptions will be wrong. As a result our property could cost a great deal more than what you might have originally planned for it to cost.

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We recently dined at the Carson Street Cafe at the Golden Nugget in downtown  Las Vegas on Fremont street. All of the casinos face Fremont street, which is enclosed with a glass ceiling for approximately six blocks. There are street performers. There are bands and there are zip lines at various locations along the street as well to entertain everyone. Also every 30 minutes or so at night they dim all of the lights of the casinos. A light show on the underside of the glass ceiling accompanied by music entertains everyone.

Golden Nugget Las Vegas – Shows

There are some really good shows and it is of course free to the public. This post is about the Carson Street Cafe. However, when we saw this great picture of  Fremont street and the Golden Nugget, we just had to include it as part of this post.

The Carson Street Cafe at the Golden Nugget is a nice reasonable place to eat. Prices are pretty much average and the food is plentiful and presented well. The tables are clean and the food is very good. We also found the service to be on par with most other restaurants in Vegas for cafe-style locations. This is a place to catch a quick meal. While you take time off from gambling or visiting the pool area of the Golden Nugget.

We always stay on the strip at one of the strip hotels,. But we usually also come downtown to visit the Golden Nugget and take in the Fremont Street Experience. If we have friends with us and they have never seen this spectacular show, then we will make the trip downtown as well to show them.

Park at the Golden Nugget Parking Garage

When you travel downtown to the Golden Nugget, we suggest that you park at the hotel’s parking lot. Then walk across the street to the hotel. You can have your parking ticket stamped to receive a few extra hours of free parking, however, there will be a charge for parking if you stay for any significant length of time. It is convenient and  the charge for parking is not that high. All parking along the strip used to be free, however, they are now charging a fee. However, like all downtown areas, space is at a premium and I guess they feel they need to charge for parking.

Visitors can also take the bus downtown or take a cab. If you split the cost between several people it is not too expansive and you do not need to be concerned about a designated driver.

Always be careful when you are in any city downtown at night. Stay on the main streets where there are lots of people and beware of pickpockets, especially when you are looking at the light show and perhaps are distracted from what people might be doing near you. Ladies should hold onto their purses and men should keep their wallets in their front pockets or in zippered pockets for proper security.

Golden Nugget Casino

This is an older-style casino that has been given a facelift and presents itself very well. The casino is always crowded and the machines are crammed everywhere so you may feel a bit claustrophobic while you are there particularly if it is busy.

They have all of the usual machines of course and although we do not know if this is true or not, rumors have it that the downtown casinos pay much better than the casinos along the strip. They have to have an edge to get people to come downtown and gamble at any of their locations including the Golden Nugget.

Rooms are also inexpensive and if you have a slot card and play a little bit, chances are you will receive invites to stay at the Golden Nugget for free next time you are in Vegas. We have not stayed at this hotel, however, we would expect them to be comparable to other mid-range hotels on the strip.

Next time you are in Vegas, make sure you head downtown for a few hours to see the Fremont Street Experience, visit the Golden Nugget and have dinner at the Carson Street Cafe. We believe that you will not be disappointed by the trip downtown. Always go in the evening so that you can see the light show as well.

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One of the big negatives for many patients regarding sleep apnea is the cost of the CPAP machines. In Canada at least these machines are running around $1200 for the machine. This includes all of the accessories such as hoses and masks, along with a humidifier for the CPAP machine. This is a huge cost for consumers. Many people cannot afford this cost. As a result they just continue to live with sleep apnea. In addition to the corresponding risks associated with not treating it.

Fortunately in Ontario, Canada, the Ontario government kicks in 75% of the cost. Which leaves approximately $400 that the patient must pay for. Unless they have CPAP insurance or their own private health insurance which provides coverage for health devices.

Private Health CPAP Insurance for CPAP machines

If a patient does not have coverage of any kind, they are faced with a $400 cost. Which is much better than the $1200 total cost. However if they do have insurance, these plans will cover approximately 80% of the cost. In this example $320 of the cost. This leaves the consumer with a cost of $80 which is much more affordable for many consumers.

It is really important to investigate just how much you have to pay out of your own pocket vs. what can be covered by other sources. Not everyone has access to health insurance. As a result many people just make the decision to not investigate. They feel that it is going to just cost too much. There are significant consequences to this decision. You have to wonder about how people reach this decision.

Consequences of not Purchasing a CPAP Machine

The consequences include (we are being blunt her to get your attention):

• Lack of sleep will cause all kinds of accidents which is going to cost you much more
• Sleep apnea can cause heart attacks
• Sleep apnea can cause strokes
• Severe sleep apnea in addition to the above, can cause severe sleep deprivation and organ malfunction

If any of the above occurs, the cost to you and your family is going to be far more than the cost of a CPAP machine even if you have to pay for the entire thing yourself. This cost cannot be measured if you have a heart attack or stroke, lose your job and cannot support your family.

Tax Deductions

The cost of a CPAP machine is tax deductible in most jurisdictions. Although you may not get much back depending on the state or province where you live, it is still something and consumers should always retain receipts and add this to the overall cost of the machine.

How Long Does a CPAP Machine Last

CPAP machines are well constructed and most machines will last a very long time. A neighbor has a machine which he has been using for the past 6 years without any problems. Of course he has had to replace the mask and the hoses several times. These accessories to the main machine are covered under your personal health coverage that you may have. The Ontario government will only cover 75% of the cost of the machine and not the accessories.

The accessories include the hose, the mask, the straps that hold the mal in place and the filter that filters the air before it enters the machine. All of these can be purchased from a health store that specializes in CPAP accessories and the cost claimed to your personal health insurance coverage.

While we are not aware of specifics, consumers should ask if there any support networks available in your area that can provide discounted equipment or financial support for these machines. Every little bit helps and will be appreciated by most people.

Before you make any purchases, investigate what insurance coverage is available to you so that you will know up front what the net cost to you will be and how much will be covered by your CPAP health insurance coverage. For more information about CPAP Insurance issues, click here.

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MGM Resorts International has joined the ranks of many other hotel chains. As a result, it is now delivering free WIFI on its properties in public areas. Many casinos have now joined the ranks of WiFi available in Vegas Hotels. They finally have gotten the message that not only was this an irritation to their guests, it was also a missed opportunity. As a result, they now can advertise their services and activities that are taking place on the property.

In a statement, and we quote, “MGM Resorts said the system is currently live at Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, and The Mirage. The system is expected to be installed this year in the Monte Carlo, New York-New York, Luxor, and Excalibur”. They join other casino properties across the US that have been offering WIFI on their properties for some time.

WIFI Available in Vegas Hotels – Competition

In many Strip casinos, Wi-Fi is only available to hotel guests or convention attendees. With the new MGM Resorts system, basic Internet access will become available to anyone who comes into public areas. Areas such as the lobby, pool area, casino, and restaurants. The system, developed with Cisco Systems, doesn’t require a password. MGM Resorts hotel guests will pay for and receive upgraded service. Convention attendees can upgrade to a higher-speed system.

WIFI Available in Vegas Hotels – Service

Experience with this type of service suggests that the speed will not be fantastic. But will be useful and suitable for email and light browsing. MGM Resorts officials believe that the Wi-Fi system will turn their entire properties into a hot spot. It will support tens of thousands of guests with multiple Internet-enabled devices.

Apps developed for these casinos will advertise their services, and allow for reservations and other activities. We expect that over the coming years these services will develop into a rich set of services. — Paul Richardson 613 298 6297

We have been stopping at this land mark snack bar, the Alfred Snack Bar – Hot Dogs, Poutine and more, for the past 15 years. Any time we travel through Alfred, Ontario, we tend to stop there and have a meal. We happen to like the hot dog platter which includes two hot dogs, french fries and a soft drink for approximately $9.00 including tax. The hot dog buns can be either steamed or toasted. We always order the hot dogs all dressed. Which includes coleslaw in addition to relish and mustard. The french fries are excellent especially with lots of vinegar and salt. We know this is bad for us, but it tastes so good. We only have this meal every couple of months.

Alfred Snack Bar – Hot Dogs, Poutine and more

The fries can be either plain or you can have them with gravy or the french standard of poutine, which is gravy and cheese curds. They have a full menu of hot dogs, hamburgs and a few other things on the menu. They also serve breakfast as well with the standard eggs, bacon and hash browns.

We have been going there for years, as we mentioned and have noticed a few changes over the last couple of years. The place looks the same, but the staff has changed and the menu is slightly different. We cannot quite put our finger on what has changed but something has.

A year or two ago the restaurants was taken over by new management and although the menu has not changed the service has dropped a bit. For example today, we ordered and our food was brought to us without a drink which we had ordered. A small thing, but then you would think that a restaurant like this one, a fast food restaurant would get this simple thing right.

The server was abrupt and direct, rather than friendly, which unfortunately is becoming typically Canadian. We routinely get better service and friendlier service in the US. It might just be him, but it sure is not the way to treat a customer especially if you want them to come back.

We will likely go back and give it one more try before moving to another place in Alfred, Ontario. For more information about Ottawa, Ontario, the Nations Capital, click here.

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What are the consequences of not getting enough sleep? We spend approximately 1/3 of every day sleeping. One third of every day working. Also  1/3 of the day getting too and from work and looking after personal things that are going on in our lives. Quite often work takes longer. We don’t want to or cannot give up some of our personal stuff. So what happens is that we squeeze the time we have left to sleep. When we do not sleep, whether it is for the reason above, health issues or we just cannot get to sleep, we suffer in multiple ways.

Consequences of Not Getting Enough Sleep

Here is a list of what can potentially happen when we do not get enough sleep:

• We tend to eat more food and especially snacks
• You will gain weight from all of those snacks and reduced activity
• You may not live as long if you get less than 5 hours a night
• Chronic sleep loss contributes to brain shrinkage
• Your blood pressure can increase
• You are more susceptible to colds and getting sick
• You may also experience memory loss
• Being tired, you tend to skip exercise
• People who miss their sleep tend to be more cranky
• You are not as alert and with it

We tend to eat more food and especially snacks to make up for energy that we need to get through the day and our coffee intake goes way up as well to help us get through the day.

You will gain weight from all of those snacks and reduced activity and this is weight that is difficult to reduce once it is on because we simply do not have the energy to exercise and work it off.

You may not live as long if you get less than 5 hours a night. Based  on studies that have been conducted, people who are sleep deprived on a chronic level tend not to live as long for a variety of reasons. Some are accident related due to lack of concentration while others just get sick more often and it eventually catches up with them.

Brain Shrinkage

Chronic sleep loss contributes to brain shrinkage or less dense brains which impacts memory retention and decision making abilities.

Your blood pressure can increase as much as 40% which is a significant problem if your family history is prone to strokes and other heart related diseases.

You are more susceptible to colds and getting sick when you are run down. The body just does not have the strength to fight viruses off and we end up being sick much more often.

You may also experience memory loss, both short term and long term memory which makes us far less productive in our daily lives.

Being tired, you tend to skip exercise which contributes to weight gain even more.

People who miss their sleep tend to be more cranky and grouchy. We are more short tempered and have a lot less patience for ourselves as well as others. This can hurt our social relationships a great deal.

You are not as alert and with it when you are sleep deprived. As a result more people with this condition are prone to accidents, falling asleep at work and other problems which can lead to very serious accidents causing bodily harm and even death.

What Can a Person Do to Get More Sleep

Several of our previous posts have outlined a number of steps that people can consider to get more sleep. There also could be an underlying health issue such as sleep apnea. Which we have also written about that affects many people and contributes to all of the above problems previously mentioned. If you have eliminated all of the non health reasons that may be affecting your sleep, see a doctor. He or she will assess health issues that could cause this. Sleep Apnea is only one condition that could cause this problem.

We are writing posts like these because we know that diet and weight gain can be caused by many different conditions and we want to make people aware of the consequences of not getting enough sleep and what they can do about it. We also feel that many people have sleep apnea and do not know about it. As a result they suffer daily from lack of sleep and are potentially prone to heart attacks and strokes as a result. Have your condition checked by a doctor to see if there is any underlying cause for your lack of sleep.

For more information about the Consequences of Not Getting Enough Sleep and other sleep issues, click here.

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Google’s driver less car has been on the road for over 300,000 miles now. A recent update suggests that Google is not in the driver less car business. They are going to focus on the software and not the hard ware. In fact it is several cars that are being tested. But the fact remains they have driven that many miles and apparently without an accident. Well, we heard there was one accident were the human in the car took over control of the car and caused an accident. Now several states have put laws into place that allow driver less cars on the road. But there must be a driver in the car’s driver seat that can take control of the car if needed.

Googles Driverless Car – Other Driverless cars

In addition the major car manufacturers are working on models of their own that can be driven without a driver in control of the car. Just think in a few years the designated driver will no longer be needed. Take me home car and away you go. We are not sure if the laws that have been passed in these states include having a driver that is sober behind the wheel and able to take over if needed. Not sure how that would work, the driver is drunk, the car gets into an accident and who do you charge with causing the accident – the drunk passenger(s), the car, the software maker, the part that failed ?

We believe that they will perfect the driver less car and we will likely accept the notion that you will not need passengers who are able to take over the car if necessary. Remember when there were operators in the elevators. You could not go from floor to floor without an elevator operator running the controls for you. At least they got to talk to people once and awhile.

Will there be Auto Pilots on These Cars

Now let’s imagine you are in Goolgle’s driver less car or one of the other manufacturer’s cars. You are the designated control driver, the person supposed to take over if needed. Does this mean that you must pay attention all of the time so that you can take control based on your judgment or will it be like the auto pilots in planes that sound an alarm to alert you to take control? Sometimes pilots fall asleep while on the job although they are not supposed to. You can bet there will be a lot of people who will be sleeping in these driver less cars. That auto pilot had better be good, reaction time and warning time to alert the pilot.

What Impact will Driver Less Cars have On Supporting Auto Industries

The main assumption is that there will be less accidents with driver less cars. Proper space will be maintained between cars and cars will not run red lights. Drivers will not be drunk behind the wheel, and distracted drivers will not cause accidents. Now you can shave, do your makeup, finish breakfast, even talk on the phone and not worry about driving. If this works as planned, there will be a lot less accidents as a result and that will have a direct impact on auto repair industries, such as windshield repair companies, auto body companies and so on.

There will still be accidents since it will be a long time before everyone is in a driverless car and everyone is forced to use the capability, bit it will come once it is demonstrated that these cars do in fact save lives and reduce accidents. Just imagine on a foggy road, were you can barely see the car in front of you. With radar installed, there will be no problem stopping when needed and not hitting the guy in front of you.

How Long Will it Take for Driver Less Cars to be in the Majority

No one really knows at this point. However it will really depend on just how good these cars are when it comes to control and accidents. If the statistics can prove they have less accidents, the insurance companies may reward car owners with these cars with lower insurance. They may jack up the insurance for people with cars without control. Penetration of this technology will move quickly.

We think that this will be a hot news story for some time to come and we are excited to watch what happens with the driver less car future. For more thoughts about traveling on vacation by vehicle, click here.

Most white water rafting companies provide everything you are going to need for their raft trips, however there are a number of items that travelers should bring with them to make their trip truly enjoyable. The raft trip organizer or white water rafting company can provide you with a complete list of things to bring with you. This is in addition to whatever they are providing. These will be suggested items and most people will heed their advice.

What to Bring on Raft Trips

Probably the most important things are your bathing suit and a change of clothes. Let’s face it you are going to get wet and sometimes the weather is cool to cold in the mountains. The water is also usually quite cold. Many of these rivers are fed by melting snow and the water can be ice cold. A warm change of clothes in a water proof bag is very important for most people. You may not want to wear a bathing suit. But you will want to wear warm clothes which will go under a rain suit or even a wet suit. Even with these precautions a warm set of clothes that you can put on when you are finished is almost mandatory for any raft trip.

The rafting company will usually provide either snacks or a meal depending on the length of the trip. You can esquire before you book to find out exactly what they provide. A snack usually means a very limited snack. So if you feel that you need something more than that, we suggest you bring it along with you as well in a water proof bag. If you are the type that sometimes finds that their blood sugar drops during the day, a snack will be just what you need. bring whatever is appropriate for your condition and make sure that it is kept dry in a water proof drag.

Overnight Raft Trips

Overnight trips require changes of clothes, sleeping bags etc which the trip organizer will tell you. They should provide you with a complete itemized list of things to bring with you. While the days may be warm, the nights can be very cool in the mountains or in the desert wherever you are rafting. Raft trips can be a lot of fun and exhilarating. Keep them fun and safe, follow the instructions and bring those extra clothes to make sure that you are comfortable throughout the day and the evening.

Talk to the experts, talk to people who have been on raft trips before. These people can give you lots of advice that can make the difference in enjoying a trip vs. not enjoying a raft trip. Follow their advice.

The Zen restaurant is in the center of Palm Springs surrounded by other restaurants such as LuLu’s and the Kaiser Grill which we have also written about on this blog.

They have expanded their patio out onto the sidewalk which is covered by the roof so you are still sheltered from the sun and yet have the feeling that you are sitting outside. We sat on one corner and enjoyed our happy hour very much with a couple of beers and several appetizers.  The cutlery is real and there are white table clothes on the tables, so it is really a cut above some of the other restaurants in the area. The waiters are excellent providing very good service as well and we were very pleases by the overall experience.

Zen – Palm Springs Restaurant

The only negative was the price of one of the appetizers which was on one of the happy hour menu items.  We ordered toasted bread with humus as a side for a price of $3.00 . You really do no know what to expect when you are trying something out and we were quite surprised to see a small plate with two small pieces of toasted bread on it with humus spread over these two small pieces of bread. I said to the waiter that this was ridiculous to deliver something so small and charge three dollars. He was embarrassed and nodded agreement and shrugged his shoulders, before walking away. Although there was acknowledgement, there was nothing done to deal with the situation. We paid pour bill and left.

Unfortunately we will not go back to this restaurant because of this although everything else that we had looked great and also what other patrons had as well. We can give this a positive recommendation, however just do not order the toasted bread with humus unless you do not mind the price for a really small appetizer.

Restaurants in the Palm Springs Area

There are many restaurants in the downtown area. Also the surrounding area of Palm Springs in addition to the Zen restaurant to try out. With so many to choose from there is lots of variety and competition as well. Which makes prices and quality excellent. We are slowly trying all of the restaurants in the downtown area and will report on more as we try them.

If you are staying at a motel or condo, near down town, you can walk to everything. Also walk home without the need to worry about drinking and driving. We are fortunate in this regard since we stay two blocks from the downtown area and walk to everything. This is the best way to travel and stay in the Palm Springs area.

Restaurant Happy Hours

Almost all restaurants in the area have a happy hour. They all start around 4 pm and end around 6pm to 7 pm. You have to check with the restaurant you going to for specific hours. Also what is included in their happy hour. Many have reduced prices on selected beers, wine and mixed drinks or well drinks as they are called in the area. Appetizers are also reduced in price as well while some will have special menu’s for happy hour.

Thursday night is when the street fair is held in Palm Springs beginning at 5 pm. This is a great time to take in one of the happy hours. You can watch all of the people who come to the street fair. It is extremely popular with thousands of people attending every Thursday night. It is one of the best times to come to a happy hour at the Zen restaurant. Or one of the others and then go for a walk up and down the street to admire all of the products from the various venders in the area.

For more information about restaurants in the Palm springs area, click here.

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We saw this quote from Mary Kay cosmetics the other day and felt that we just had to include it on our blog. Mary Kay is the person that started Mary Kay cosmetics and built it into an empire. She did well in life and we think that when she has something to say, we should probably listen. She has a great deal of experience and has passed much of what she learned along to many women. While you may not like or use her cosmetics, the following quote has a ring of truth to it and that is why you should take the time to read it and pay attention to what she has to say.

Even if this post helps only one person, we feel it was worth it to take the time to make this post. Also if you are a male and feel that this does not apply to you, just read the quote and then decide if it is useful for you. There is something in it for everyone.

Here is the Quote from Mary Kay:

We have two ears and one mouth – so listen more than you speak

On life’s stages, she had another really interesting quote:

From 1 – 18 years, you need your parents

From 18 – 40 years, you need your looks

From 40 – 60 years you need your personality and

From 60 on you need money”

Guess that is why you see so many old guys with young wives. No young women would ever want these old guys, but they sure want their money! They are willing to give up their dignity and their pride to live well and to be married to someone much older than they are. Perhaps they hope their partner will move on at some point and they will be left holding the nest egg.

Perhaps marry Kay did know a thing or two from all of the years she spent building her business. Ladies pay attention to the above quote, keep your looks and save your money for when you turn 60!

For more posts about life changing events, click here.

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The writer happens to think that the best casino in North America is the Wynn Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas Nevada, with a close runner up The Bellagio Casino and Hotel, also in Las Vegas Nevada. They both have something in common. They were both designed and built by Steve Wynn who has literally transformed the entire Las Vegas strip introducing sophisticated high-class casinos and hotels with top-of-the-line entertainment and restaurants.

All of the hotels in Vegas pretty much have the formula down pat. They have lots of rooms, they have a buffet, they have many other high-end restaurants and they cater to conferences, weddings, and people on vacation. They have lots of glitz, they cater to the high rollers and they have a lot of glimmers. But what really sets these two hotels apart from the others in Las Vegas, Tunica, or in Atlantic City?

Best Casino Never Looks Tired

In our opinion, these hotels are maintained at a high standard of cleanliness, employees are constantly polishing and vacuuming, they are trimming the plants and keeping them pristine looking, they update furniture and rooms and carpets as soon as they get the least bit tired looking. You know when you walk into a place whether it is beginning to look a little tired looking. The Bellagio and the Wynn casinos and hotels are maintained at such a high standard that they never look this way. This is all based on a first impression when you walk into these hotels and perhaps stay in one of their rooms, but there is a lot more to why they have the best casino designation.

Service Level

The employees treat you as an honored guest and try to make sure that everything is done to perfection. Whether it is the maid making up your room or the blackjack dealer they all understand that Las Vegas is all about the competition they plan to be the best to encourage you to return many times to their casino.

This is where the Wynn Casino is slightly above the Bellagio, as the best casino. We have never had to wait for a drink while playing the slots at the tables at the Wynn Casino. They were always prompt and courteous and accurate with drink orders. The Bellagio on the other hand has not always provided the best service.

Perhaps someone called in sick or they did not schedule sufficient servers that day, however, we had to literally put our service light on at the slot machine to call a slot repair person to ask them to call a server. Eventually, we spoke to a manager and they fixed the problem for us. The next time we visited the Bellagio, service was back to what we have come to expect from the Bellagio. Some might say this is a small thing; however, it is an indicator that can turn some customers away.

Décor as the Best Casino

Both casinos have very special attractions that literally bring thousands of people into their casinos every day. The Bellagio has sound, light, and water displays. They run during the afternoons and evenings on a man-made lake outside the front of the casino. It is massive and truly an entertainment spectacle. The Wynn has its mountain in front of the casino with waterfalls and lakes with elegant dining around the lake.

They also have a Maserati car display and a champion 18-hole golf course at the back of the casino. There is a very posh 19^th hole to relax in. The Wynn is somewhat tropical while being contemporary. The Bellagio is elegant and located in a prime location. They both have all of the top stores that sell clothing and accessories that cost far beyond what the normal person can afford.

These two hotels qualify as being the best casinos in North America and even if you are not staying at the hotel, they are definitely worth a visit to them just to take in the design, the elegance, and the pleasure to the eyes. These are truly great places to visit.

Medical supplies CPAP devices can be purchased from many different clinics, home care stores and even online. But what are the best prices and are you buying the right supplies for your particular CPAP machine? When do you need to replace your supplies?

Well it turns out that most of the supplies will last between 6 months and a year. Depending on how well you take care of all of the components. Plastic and rubber does age and when it does it becomes brittle. Which then leads to cracking and leaks of the pressurized air. Once a leak starts, the machine will not be able to deliver the proper pressure to manage your sleep apnea.

Medical Supplies CPAP – Cleaning and Maintenance

My particular instruction book recommends that the mask should be cleaned every day. Cleaning can be accomplished with mild soap. Clean both the inside and the outside of the mask to avoid body oils building up and causing the rubber or plastic to prematurely age. Clean your mask every morning when you get up to ensure that it also has time to dry before you need to use it in the evening. The water reservoir for the humidifier should also be emptied out. Then rinsed with warm water and allowed to dry during the day as well. This not only prolongs the reservoir container. It also avoids mold from beginning which you do not want entering your lungs.

Also you should wash your face with mild soap as well prior to using the mask. This will help to avoid body oils and perspiration contacting the mask more than necessary. This is by far the best way to prolong the life of all of the supplies you will need for your CPAP.

Once a week all components need to be washed with mild soap to remove any body oils that might have accumulated. Again do this in the morning so that the straps, mask and hoses have an opportunity to dry properly before they are reused that night.

Were can You Purchase medical Supplies for CPAP devices?

We have found that the best place to purchase these supplies is at a home care center store. They tend to stock everything you need for all of the different machines and they have someone on staff all of the time to help answer any questions that you may have. Support is important to help people make adjustments and also monitor progress that you are making with your apnea. These locations will be more expensive, but the support you get is typically included. You will want to speak with a respiratory specialist who knows these machines and who also can look at the memory chip to assess your progress.

This last comment is actually very important. The information on the memory chip will tell the therapist how often you use the machine, whether you have any major leaks and how well you are doing relative to your sleep apnea. They may make a suggestion to increase or decrease your air pressure to improve your sleep apnea.

While you may be able to purchase some of these medical supplies at other locations at less expense, it is important that you consider the support that you get for that price.  An alternative is to purchase extra components as your system ages while at the same time going in for a check once and awhile to confirm your air pressure and progress with the CPAP device.

CPAP Supplies Online

We have never used an online store to make purchases of this type for any medical supplies. If any of our readers have done so perhaps you would not mind taking the time to leave a comment about the results and satisfaction level with your purchase. By the time you take into account shipping costs and also problems that you might have with returning parts that do not fit properly, it might be just easier to purchase from a real store were you can try your device with the supplies.

Parts supplies that you might order include:

• Mask
• Straps
• Connection hose
• Long feeder hose
• Filters

That’s our opinion about medical supplies and were you may want to purchase them. If you do purchase online, take the time to make sure that you are buying exactly the right parts for you r particular CPAP machine. For more information about medical supplies CPAP, click here.

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Five Guys Restaurant – Ottawa

Just had lunch at Five Guys burger restaurant this week. This was the first time we have been to this restaurant. Two burgers with the works plus fries and a drink cost $18.00!  The works include all of the standard stuff plus fresh tomatoes and lettuce. Plus a bunch of other things that are optional and all included in the price.  These are real burgers, like you would see on your barbecue at home. Also more fries than you eat! You have a choice between a small burger and a larger one.  The only difference is the price. The fact that now you have two patties of meat and a larger bun. Of course this is much more than you can eat, at least for most people.

Five Guys Burgers

The decor is basic with a cement floor and tables. Decoration is framed write ups from papers from various cities they operate in around the US and Canada. They have a lot of them and all of them are glowing reports of how great the food is for a burger joint. We have to agree that of all of the places one can go for a burger and fries, this is by far the best. It was packed at lunch time and people were also taking a lot of take outs.

We enjoyed our meal very much and will go back sometime when we are ready for a really home made burger and great fries.

One other point which we forgot to mention is that they have peanuts in the shell which you can help yourself to. They are salted and something to munch on while you wait for your burger. All I needed at this point was a beer, but unfortunately it is not licensed as far as we could tell. As a result you should stay away if you have peanut allergies.

The two Five Guys restaurants that we are familiar with in the Ottawa area are in the Train Yards and also on Innes road in Orleans. There are probably others in the city, however we have not discovered them yet.

If you are looking for a really great burger, this is the place to go. We are not in any way associated with this restaurant. just wanted to pass along that it is a great place to eat and enjoy a fast lunch or dinner. Check them out. For more things to do in Ottawa, click here.

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Ottawa Ontario winter wonderland

Most Canadians enjoy the winter. They take advantage of various sports activities that are made available as a result of the snow and cold weather. For example, skating, skiing, snow shoeing, etc are just some of the sports activities that Canadians will engage in. Increasingly there are many people who head south for the winter to get away from the snow and the cold. These snow birds head down before Christmas and do not come back until the end of April to get away from the snow. They really do not want to see this stuff ever. Of late, our winters have not been that bad compared to 30 years ago. Yet more and more Canadians are headed south.

One person wrote this small poem and we decided to include it here for the enjoyment of readers who cannot get away or wonder why so many do go south for the winter.

It’s a Canadian winter

And the gentle breezes blow
Seventy miles an hour
At thirty-five below.

Oh, how I love Canada and the cold weather!

When the snow’s up to your butt
You take a breath of winter
And your nose gets frozen shut.

Yes, the weather here is wonderful

So I guess I’ll hang around
I could never leave Canada
I’m frozen to the friggin’ ground!

Why We leave Canada in the Winter

That’s why so many leave before it freezes. They just cannot handle the snow and ice. Having done this my self for the past 10 years I am in total agreement with all of the snow birds. I want to enjoy some of the snow and do go cross country skiing, but that is enough. We head out after New Years to Arizona and California to spend our time enjoying the sun!

The best part of winter is actually March and April. It is beginning to warm up and the snow is melting. Dec, Jan and Feb can be very cold and it is really the time to avoid being in the country.

For more posts about Canadian politics and other stores about Canada, click here.

When this post was written the US was about to go over a fiscal cliff, and many people are thinking what a bunch of incompetents. They all should be fired! Can you imagine if any private company manager ran their company in this manner. They would be bankrupt in a hurry.  I guess that is why the US is headed in that direction.

What about Your Personal Fiscal cliff

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The effects of not getting enough sleep are clearly depicted in this cartoon picture. How many of us can relate to this picture were we have fallen asleep at the most improbable times causing us to be embarrasses or worse. There are dangers with falling asleep at the wrong time and it is important to address this issue before a serious accident occurs.

Falling asleep at your desk is not a huge problem as far as risk goes, but what about falling asleep while driving your car or operating some kind of power tool or machinery.  This can be catastrophic, even dangerous to life. your own and others are put at risk when you fall asleep while driving or operating machinery.

There are health risks as well. Mild sleep deprivation will cause everything to slow down, thought processes and metabolism. We eat more to give us energy and this result sin weight gain and all of the associated issues that this can generate. From high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, joint problems and much more.  These in turn can cause strokes and heart attacks and a spiral downwards if it really gets serious.

Many people have to deal with this problem every day. Some sleep deprivations is caused by eating habits, life style and then there are underlying health issues. If you feel that you have eliminated things like caffeine and other life style causes such as exercise late at night, then there might be an under lying health related condition that you may want to have your doctor look at.  Before you go to the doctor check out all of the things that people can do to help them sleep better. We have listed a few below which you can work on, but if these do not work, then it is time to get help. Don’t hesitate especially if you are chronically fatigued. Get help from your doctor.

What Can You Do to Deal with the Effects of Not Getting Enough Sleep

The primary thing to do is to focus on getting more sleep. You may be already doing some of these things, however try them all to see what works and what does not work. Also manage your expectations. It may take a week or two before you begin to see results. You basically need to retrain your body to sleep more. here is a list of steps people can consider to help them sleep better:

• Eliminate caffeine from your diet – coffee, tea, chocolate etc
• Eliminate alcohol at least 5 hours before going to bed
• Avoid eating before you go to bed
• Avoid watching the news, or stimulating movies before going to bed
• Select things that are calming to you before going to bed – a dull book is great
• Avoid exercise for 4 hours before going to bed
• Focus on relaxing prior to bed
• Do not turn on the TV or radio in the middle of the night if you wake up

There may be other steps people use to help them relax before going to bed. Send us a comment if you have other steps that work for you. But we hope you get the idea in regards to preparing for sleep at night. If after a month of this type of regime you find that you still are not sleeping, check in with the doctor. Take notes of what you have been doing and how much you have been sleeping along with any medications that you might be taking. All of this information will be helpful to the doctor when they make an assessment.

Under Lying Health Issues

There can be lots of reasons for not sleeping caused by health issues. The trick is to eliminate all of the possibilities to ensure that there is nothing related to health issues. For example the writer has sleep apnea. This kept myself as well as my partner awake for hours and when we did sleep we would wake up often because of the snoring and the gasping when I did not breathe.

Once I dealt with this issue, I no longer snore and both of us now get an excellent nights sleep! The answer in my case is a CPAP machine with a nasal pillow mask. This solved the problem and now I feel rested every day and get a fantastic nights sleep. This is only one example of how a health issue can cause someone to not get enough sleep. It has lowered my blood pressure, lowered by heart rate and caused me to eat less during the day as well because I now have the energy that I need.

Don’t hesitate, deal with your sleep loss now, since the effects of not getting enough sleep can effect your family and your work! For more information about the health effects of not getting enough sleep, click here.

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Can you believe it has happened again? More shootings at a school with guns that have no business being in a persons hands, let alone a young deranged man. Are Reality Shows and online gaming giving our kids the wrong message. Are viewers becoming so accustomed to gun play on the TV and at movies that it does not affect them any more? Many people are just becoming immune to the carnage and accepting it as part of life.

The cold hearted will blame it on the person and not the guns. We are not against guns for hunting, but why on earth do you need a gun that fires on auto in a machine gun manner? Do you really need to have this kind of fire power?

Some will say that they need the guns for self defense. If no one had guns you would not need self defense! If someone in your family is not stable, why have a gun around? For self defense, have one, not dozens! If you collect them, keep them under lock and key and store them away from the ammunition.

Shootings at a School – A Significant Problem

The US has to solve this problem. It is getting ridiculous and out if control! How many shootings have there been this year? We are a great country, can’t we find a solution for this huge problem. We seem to be able to address other significant challenging problems, why not this one.

For more posts on gun control , click here.

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Traveling without health insurance can literally bankrupt you. It can ruin your life if you cannot find the money to pay for hospital coverage and repatriation home, if you are too ill to travel. The prime travel season is coming up for snow birds heading south and many retired people planning trips. We felt that a post on travel insurance for Canadians coverage and why you need it would be worthwhile. Bottom line is that the cost of medical visits to the hospital is just too high. It can literally put you in the poor house if you are not properly covered.

Travel Insurance for Canadians

A recent survey found that many people, young and old are taking the chance of traveling abroad without health insurance coverage and unfortunately ending up with huge medical bills that most people just cannot afford. Canadians are not used to paying for their health issues. After all it is covered by government programs. Travel insurance for Canadians while traveling is extremely important.

Many People Travel Without Health Insurance

Many People Travel Without Health Insurance survey went on to say that as many as 65% of younger travelers will travel without health insurance, which by itself is an amazing statistic when a day in hospital can cost as much as $20,000 or even more. A major accident could cost several hundred thousand dollars and there are many of these every year were foreigners are hurt in major car crashes.

What Coverage do You Have When Traveling

Many people think that their own health insurance will cover them when they travel. They might and then again they may not. A broken leg could cost $16,000 for a two day stay in the hospital, while some local government health care agencies that Canadians have will only cover about $200 per day. That is a huge number to make up. Health insurance for that same person might have cost less than a hundred dollars.

The cost to be transported from one state to another, from one province to another or from one country to another country is usually not covered by government health agencies. You need to have travel health insurance to cover these sorts of things. Someone who suddenly takes ill while traveling, or has a car accident and needs to be transported home will spend thousands of dollars on travel costs or transport by air ambulance. Travel health insurance can cover all of this including transporting your immediate family and your car if you are driving.

For the small amount of money that health and travel insurance costs you, it is definitely worth having to ensure that you and your family is adequately protected while traveling.

Travel Insurance Tips

• Before you go review your coverage and what it does not cover
• Are you covered for the right number of days
• Are you covered for transport home
• Do you have to pay and claim or will they pay the hospital up front
• What will your current health insurance cover?
• Review the various plans available and select the one that meets your needs
• Are you covered within your home country, even if you are out of state or province
• Do you need trip cancellation insurance or
• Trip interruption insurance
• Lost baggage insurance and replacement cost for items that you need

Read the details of the coverage, especially the exclusions to ensure that you will be covered for everything that you are doing. If you have any questions ask the experts and do not make assumptions. Assumptions can cost a lot of money especially if they are the wrong assumptions.

Travel safe and plan well to ensure that you have a successful and enjoyable vacation.

There are many luxury hotels in Puerto Vallarta and also many hotels that are not anywhere near being luxurious. Vacationers should really get someone to visit for them before they book a place if they have never been there. Also, you can count on the brand name hotel chains for good service with high quality as well. These will be very expensive compared to the lower-class hotels. You pay for brand names anywhere and Mexico is no different. This is a picture of the pool area at the Portofino condo-hotel next door to the Marriott hotel in the marina area of Puerto Vallarta. It is right on the beach overlooking the ocean and the sand. A beautiful spot and easy to spend time at while you are in this part of Mexico.

Some Luxury Hotel Puerto Vallarta does not Measure up

One hotel in downtown Puerto Vallarta that we saw was more like a dungeon with few windows. You felt like you were in prison, although they did have all of the basics. The location was really great and it was located right downtown near the Malecon that runs along the ocean. This is a walkway you could visit every day and stroll along the ocean and visit the shops. The hotel room had a kitchen, a small living area, and a bedroom. There was a balcony that was large enough to seat two people comfortably. It overlooked a busy street and all of the wires for electricity, telephone, and whatever else there was. The location was great, but certainly not the living quarters. The pool was on the rooftop and very basic. Not a place to be recommended. this is why everyone should check out the place they will stay prior to actually booking it.

Marina Puerto Vallarta

There are also luxury hotels in the marina area of Puerto Vallarta. These are also in a prime location as well, near the ocean, the marina and close to lots of bars and restaurants. Location counts for a lot. It can make up for a hotel that is not so luxurious. Beach, sun, and sand count for a lot in Puerto Vallarta.

The only negative about the marina location is that it is about 20 minutes by bus from the downtown area of Puerto Vallarta. Too far to walk and a bit of hassle to take the bus every day. This is another issue to make sure that you take into account. Every location has advantages and disadvantages to take into account. Just make sure that the advantages of a hotel are the ones that you prefer and the disadvantages can be lived with.

For more information about this beautiful vacation destination, click here.

Planning a white water raft trip next year? We suggest that you book early to get the date and the location you are looking for. Raft trips fill up early due to demand and based on conditions. Spring raft trips  usually provide much more challenging and better white water due to the winter run off. The water is melting off the mountains and feeding the rivers causing them to be fast flowing and turbulent. You can find some really great white water rapids in the spring time at the regular locations were white water rafting companies operate.

As the year moves into late spring and summer, flows will decrease. Some rivers are not even navigable if it is a dry year or the spring runoff finishes early. Talk with your river raft trip organizers if you are looking for a specific experience for your raft trip. They can advise what the best time of year is to try out a raft trip based on your skill level and the thrills you are looking for.

Raft Trip – Experience

If a group is planning to go on a raft trip, the recommendation is that the least experienced person should determine if the trip is suitable and safe enough for that person. never force someone to go on a raft trip if they are uncomfortable or the skill level required is beyond them. There are just too many opportunities for something bad to happen and no one wants that. If in doubt speak to your raft guide to determine what the appropriate skill level requirement is for the raft trip you are planning.

Extreme rafting on the right rivers can be found almost anytime of the year. But you have to search for these raft trips and you may have to travel some distance to find the best raft trips to meet your needs. In some cases such as Grand Canyon raft trips, participants must book at least a year in advance to obtain the dates and times they prefer. There is that much demand for these spectacular trips.

Rafting guides have been known to even travel to other continents during slow periods at their home location. The seasons are reversed for example in South American vs. North America. There are summer rain seasons in other locations which can provide great rafting trips as well. There are many opportunities for raft trips. we are adding more and more to our site every month.

Pay attention to your guide on your raft trip. They are experienced, know the river and understand where the danger spots are. If you are on an overnight trip pay particular attention to everything they tell you. Follow their guidelines with respect to staying out of the water. People have drown quickly due to hypothermia in a matter of minutes in the cold spring run off.

From time to time CPAP users will need supplies for CPAP machines that they use. Purchased from a home care store will likely mean that they are very expensive.  The price quoted for a CPAP nasal pillow mask with straps and hoses to go with it was $225 Canadian. Which when compared to what we have seen on the online stores is more than double the price.

It pays to shop around for supplies for CPAP machines,. Although consumers need to be careful that they purchase the correct size and mask for their CPAP machine. They also must ensure that the size is correct for their head and the fit around their nose and mouth.

The picture above is one of a nasal pillow mask that works really well. Especially for people who can keep their mouth closed while sleeping. This mask just fits over the end of the nose. It is held in place by straps as shown in the picture. The straps can be detached as can the hose that fits into the flexible nasal pillow mask. Again size is important depending on the size of your face. Also the size of your nose. Make sure you purchase the correct unit, otherwise you may be disappointed.

What Supplies for CPAP Machines Do You Need

Basically the only daily supply users require is distilled water for the humidifier. This water has no impurities. It is used in the humidifier to add humidity to your nasal passages and lungs as you breath through the mask. Distilled water can be purchased at many drug stores and some grocery stores.

The machine itself comes with filters to keep large particles from entering the system. This needs to be cleaned once per week or perhaps every two weeks depending on the conditions. There is also a filter that can be inserted to filter out pollen and fine particles for those people with allergies. These are to be replaced once per month. they are inexpensive and can be purchased at a CPAP store or home care type of store.

The remaining supplies that you may need consist of the hoses and the mask with the straps. We are told that these parts will last up to a year depending on how well you take care of them. The plastic hoses and mask become brittle with age and will crack requiring their replacement. The mask should be washed every day to remove body oils etc, while the hoses and straps should be washed with soap every week. Once they crack, they need to be replaced, since your system will not work properly with air leaking out of the crack.

That is about it in terms of what supplies you may need.

Travel With a CPAP machine and Supplies

Finding supplies for your CPAP machine can be difficult depending on where you are going. Distilled water can be found in many places. In a pinch you could go without or use clean water, but why take the risk. After all any impurities int he water will go straight into your lungs. This is why it is so important to keep everything clean and dry when not in use.

When we travel we either take additional spare parts with us or we do a search before we leave to make sure that we can either order spare parts from home, online or there is a home care store near by were we can purchase what we need. You do not want to suddenly experience a problem while traveling and have to do without your CPAP machine now that you are used to it.

Personally I have purchased an additional mask and I think I will also purchase additional straps since these appear to be the most fragile of all of the supplies. In a pinch I could seal a hole in the hose with some tape if I was unable to find another hose while traveling. These parts are quite small and can fit into your travel bag with no problem what so ever.

That’s about it regarding supplies for CPAP machines. There are lots of places that sell them, since many more people are being diagnosed with sleep apnea and these machines really do work. They ensure that you get a good nights sleep and they stop you snoring completely. Why would you not take yours with you when you travel along with the supplies that you need? For more information about CPAP supplies, click here.

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This topic of Best Casino Bonuses
was inspired by an online question we read recently. Basically, a player was wondering if you had $1000 to play with, would you be better off from a casino bonus or comp perspective playing a nickel machine or a dollar machine? The answer that was given was a simple answer in our opinion and basically indicated that the casino might give better comps to the dollar player vs. the nickel player. This answer was based on the fact that if the dollar player plays for a few extra minutes he or she will go through more money than the nickel player and the casino could benefit more as a result. All things being equal as the expression goes, this statement would probably be true. However, there are a lot more variables to consider than just this one aspect. Let’s explore a few of these.

Best Casino Bonuses

There are other factors and we will go through each of these factors that determine how much you might be comp’d based on a fixed amount of play.

How Much You Bet Each Press of the Slot Button

Every machine has a maximum bet and a minimum bet. I have seen some dollar machines as high as $10 per press of the button and some nickel machines as high as $5 if you play all lines to the maximum allowed. Some people believe they can play longer if they play the minimum and others feel that they might lose out on a major win if they do. Bottom line is that you can still earn the same number of slot points, regardless of how long it takes you.

How Much or How Often Do You Win

Some slot machines pay a lot of small jackpots. Most players just keep playing until they win a large jackpot or until their money is gone. I once play blackjack for 3.5 hours. I started with a $20 bill and walked away with $15.00. Although I did not win any money, in fact, I lost $5, I was comp’d for over $200 in food that trip because I played so long. I won a lot of small stuff which kept me going for that length of time.

How Fast You Play

Some people play at a sedate pace, while others play as fast as they can. If they both win the same amount they are going to gain the same number of slot points. However, to the slot host, the faster player has a betting rate that is a lot higher and will attract more attention as far as comps are concerned.

How Many Different Machines Do You Play

Do you try different machines all of the time and do you make sure your slot card is always inserted?  If so this is a good thing, since you are getting all of the points that you should. But many people routinely forget their slot cards and miss out on points that they would have otherwise gained. Make sure that this is not you.

Payout Rates of Machines

Not all slot machines have the same payout. They seem to definitely go in cycles and some are just plain set higher to attract attention and gain interest, particularly with new machines being introduced to the players. Playing a losing machine for a long time is just not going to cut it as far as points and wins are concerned.

Special Points Days

Some casinos will have days during the week when they know that business is regularly slow. They will have bonus days where you can gain 2 times or sometimes even 3 times points. On these days the players can gain a lot more points towards their slot comps than on other days. It can be definitely worth your while to play on these days. In many casinos, these points add up towards free meals in restaurants that you can deduct right off your card at the cashier to pay for your meal without having to charge it to your room.

How Well You Know the Slot Host

Get to know your slot host especially if you go to the casino often. They cannot always help you with comps since it does depend on your play, however, they sometimes can bend the rules a bit to get you tickets for a show that is sold out or reservations at a restaurant that is already full. It never hurts to ask them for help. They will be glad to help if they can.

Other Variables Beyond Your Control

There are lots of things that occur during travel and trips. Sometimes knowing the slot host, having a slot card, or just grabbing a quick meal can really make a difference in your trip. If you are a high roller, there are lots of comps and ways for a slot host to assist. We cannot name them all here since they are as varied as the number of people that go to the casino.

A bunch of retired and semi-retired guys were having coffee the other day and there was a discussion about what drugs people pay for once they turn 65 in Ontario, Canada. One of our gang did some research and came up with the following answer which I posted on this blog. We would be interested in what other people pay in other provinces in Canada. As well as what people pay in the US and around the world when they turn 65.

Here is the answer I received from one of the group of guys who did a little research and sent it to the rest of us.

Guys, upon further review, I can now confirm that at 65, we will have most of our prescribed drugs paid for by the Ontario government.  However since we will all exceed the ‘poverty test’, we will have to pay the first $100 annual deductible.  So when you are paying for your prescription, you tell the pharmacist that you are now in the ODB program. He/she will access the govt. database to confirm your age and coverage and then set up your account accordingly. They will then bill them the cost for the prescription less the cost of the deductible.

Ontario Government Drug Benefit Program – Personal Health Insurance

If you have your own health insurance, the pharmacy will then bill any deductible and the small dispensing fee to the insurance company as they do today (or you pay and forward the receipt to the insurance company yourself).

Once you have used up the annual deductible, the insurance company is only billed the dispensing fee…  I checked and my personal  health plan insurance does cover the deductible amount. Each person should evaluate their own insurance coverage to confirm what they will pay vs their personal health insurance.

Personally  I think this is a really good deal for anyone living in Ontario, Canada, especially if you are retired. Not all drugs are covered. Most of the common drugs that are on the generic list are covered and the generics are certainly covered. If you are taking a specific drug now and close to turning 65, you may want to check with your pharmacist to see if these same drugs will be covered. Or whether you will have to switch to a generic.

Personal Drug Plans

Even your personal drug plan that  you use prior to 65 will want you to use the generic drugs. They are much cheaper than the non generic drugs. Sometimes they can be half the price or more which saves everyone a great deal of money. At 65, even if you have to pay for your own drugs always go for the generic drugs to save you hundreds of dollars a year.

Generic drugs are just as effective as the regular drugs and have been tested for all of the side effects that regular drugs go through. This is a pretty standard approach and can save consumers hundreds of dollars sometimes on a single prescription.

Drugs purchased in the states by Canadians while they are traveling are usually covered by their own health insurance plans. The receipts need to be submitted to the insurance company when you return to Canada. In addition if you need to see a doctor to obtain a prescription while traveling outside the country, most insurance companies want a call to them first before you go to the doctor. Failure to do so may cause the claim to be denied.

We also heard from several Americans that many businesses are limiting them to 29 hours a week so that they do not qualify for benefits. Previously before Obamacare the cut off was 39 hours. Now these people receive less hours and they still do not receive benefits. They now make less money and do not receive benefits. At least in Canada, once you are over 65, Ontario picks up the drugs with a $100 deductible. For more information about health related issues, click here.

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Well we are planning our next trip down south. We will be joining the thousands of snow birds that head south every year to get away from the cold and the snow. We will be gone for four months. Who wouldn’t look forward to palm trees, sun and swimming. We are planning to drive since we want to have our own car while we are away on a winter vacation rather than fly and then rent a car. There are lots of things to think about when you are leaving for this length of time. Logistics of your trip is one area to consider but so are the responsibilities of your home which also must be considered. We put together this post to help other people like us prepare for their trips.

Planning our next Trip

We love to hike and travel to interesting sites, so this is also part of our trip. We are considering Dallas and traveling to the site of the show called Dallas, South Fork ranch. Apparently there are lots of tours through the ranch every day. We thought this might be an interesting thing to do.

We will go through Tucson where the PIMA museum is and the bone yard for planes that are no longer required or able to be in the air. Some planes are just stored, while others are being kept for parts. It covers several square miles and there are thousands of planes at this site. This is a must see place if you are interested in this sort of thing.

Titan Missile Museum

Another location we might go to is the Titan Missile Museum just south of Tucson. This is from the cold war when there were missiles all over the US pointed at Russia. They were intended as a deterrent to any attack that they might fire at us. Apparently this is the last one that is left in the US. There are regular visitors to this location which is just outside of Tucson.

On our travels we may also go to Biloxi, MS to visit the coast and stay at a hotel called the Beau Rivage. If you have not been to the Beau Rivage, it is a very nice place right on the gulf and part of the MGM chain of hotels.

That is it for now. We will update our posts once we have our plans finalized. These are just a couple of areas that we are thinking about and provide some idea of what is involved. We have other posts with detailed checklists of items to consider.

For more trip planning ideas, click here.

The Cowboys of Belfast is a nine-piece band that plays the music of Van Morrison. Born on St Patrick’s Day.  We are not followers of Van Morrison or the Belfast Cowboys, however they are apparently pretty good. they play at various venues around the nation entertaining crowds of people with the music of Van Morrison and other tunes. There are many followers of this band and also of the Van Morrison style of music around the world.

The band features several veterans of the Minneapolis music scene, including singer Terry Walsh and sax man Vic Volare. The Cowboys have become one of Minnesota’s most popular bands, playing monthly shows at Lee’s Liquor Lounge and Whiskey Junction, among others.

Cowboys of Belfast – Van Morrison

Van Morrison, was born George Ivan Morrison on 31 August 1945. He is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. Some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance and the live album It’s Too Late to Stop Now have been very popular on many of the record charts

Morrison as a teenager in the late 1950s, played a variety of instruments including guitar, harmonica, keyboards and saxophone for various Irish show bands. He rose to prominence in the mid-1960s as the lead singer of the Northern Irish R&B band Them, with whom he recorded the garage band classic “Gloria”.

Morrison continues to record and tour, producing albums and live performances that sell well and are generally warmly received, sometimes collaborating with other artists, such as Georgie Fame and The Chieftains. In 2008 he performed Astral Weeks live for the first time since 1968.

Morrison’s music includes “Brown Eyed Girl”, “Jackie Wilson Said (I’m in Heaven When You Smile)”, “Domino” and “Wild Night”. He also sings Astral Weeks and lesser-known works such as Veedon Fleece and Common One.

Cowboys of Belfast – Grammy Awards

Morrison has received six Grammy Awards, the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, has been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and appearing on several “Greatest Artists” lists.

There are lots of web sites that provide much more detailed information about the cowboys of Belfast and the Van Morrison style of music. Many are fan favorites and many people enjoy this music all over the world. This style is not our favorite style of music, however he is much loved by many fans. Ireland is a beautiful country and many Irish return every year to their homeland to renew acquaintances, search for family history or just to experience some of the history that abounds in the country.  If you cannot make it to Ireland for what ever reason, why not listen to some of Ireland’s famous artists instead?

Please feel free to add your own comments about Van Morrison or the Cowboys of Belfast. I am sure our readers will welcome any and all comments. Please, no spam comments or links to unrelated sites. We always delete all spam comments if our spam filter let’s them through. We enjoy like minded sites as well and welcome comments about our pages that our readers will enjoy. Place links to this site and we will be pleased to link to your site, otherwise we will just erase the comment. We would rather have links back and forth to good quality sites to help our readers find more information about Van Morrison.

For more posts about the Irish and Ireland, click here.

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When we originally wrote this post the new hotel was almost ready, scheduled to be open in March 2013. It is now open and as it turns out a really nice place to stay. The Casino Hotel Akwesasane is one that everyone should try and get to at least once.

The new bar  in the casino is open along with the new high limit area. The new lounge is open. They are gradually readjusting and moving all of the slot machines. They are replacing the carpet with new burgundy style carpet, a major upgrade in our opinion.   The table area were you play roulette and blackjack among other games has also been moved into the new area as well. So far all of the upgrades they have made look great. This hotel and casino complex is shaping up to be a very nice place to spend a few hours in as well as overnight.  Patrons will have a choice of the Comfort Inn next door or the hotel that is attached to the casino.

Casino Hotel Akwesasane

They have not done away with smoking which is too bad. The heavy smoking just spoils the entire complex and over time  will ruin the place with the nicotine residue that eventually ends on everything. They will spend a lot of money on cleaning and the machines themselves will need more maintenance.

The buffet was upgraded a few months ago and is the best in the area. The only negative is they still allow smoking, even cigars in the casino. It is too bad that a brand new hotel and casino has to be spoiled by smoke. The extra cost must be high to keep everything still looking great.

We are staying at the comfort inn next door which is really nice. Clean, no smoking and good service including the breakfast area.

The tent area which still houses some slot machines and the poker area is being renovated as well. We anticipate that the next time we go there, it will be totally empty and being prepared for whatever is planned for this space. Every time we go there is something new to see and it is exciting for both the employees and the patrons as well.

The same great deals seem to be still in place with the daily special draws, the seniors days with half price on the buffet and the upscale restaurants. They did raise the draft beer to a $1.50 from a $1.00, still very inexpensive compared to other locations. this is a really great place to spend a few hours gambling and we will be going back often.

For more posts about casinos around the country, click here

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The new hotel at the Akwesasne casino looks like it is on schedule. We were told that it is supposed to be ready to open in March of 2013 and we expect that they will meet this deadline. They are working on the inside now that the walls and roof are up and the windows are all in closing off the interior from the cold winter snow. The construction crane is gone and they are doing the finishing touches. However, this project is a complex one. Not only are they building a new hotel, but they are also expanding the casino floor. Also updating the buffet and changing all of the carpeting. In addition, they are moving the table gaming area, moving many slot machines around. Also converting the tent portion of the casino to a bingo hall. A lot has been completed and everything looks great and on schedule.

Expanded Casino Floor

The expanded casino floor is already open in the new area and they are updating the old casino area with new rugs and new machines. The tables for blackjack, roulette, etc have all been moved into the newly expanded gambling area.

Even the old tent area is being updated. There is only a small area open in the tent with a few slot machines and a poker area at the time of writing this post. The rest of the tent area is under construction and the rumor is that they will add a large bingo hall to this area. It is all supposed to be done by March 2013. We think they will make it.

There is a lounge area behind the new bar where people can sit and relax to have a drink. They have a disc jockey in this area who was playing rap music. Which we do not care for. However, the management is still experimenting with entertainment. It was very loud and you could barely hear anyone close to you. The price of drinks has been raised, however, they are still very inexpensive compared to many other places that charge for drinks. At $1.50 for a draft beer, we really cannot complain at all.

Akwesasne casino hotel – Dinner

We enjoy going to the Akwesasne casino very much and usually make a day of it. Mondays and Wednesdays are senior days where you can have the buffet at half price. The buffet is excellent and one of the best around. It is even better than any of the Canadian Casinos in the Ottawa area. We always use the points from our slot cards to pay for the meal. As a result, we seldom have to pay anything when we eat, unless we are having a drink with our meal.

They have a brand new slot comp area near the main entrance now which is much more open and bright.

There is also a Comfort Inn next door. You can stay for the night if you plan to stay over. Note that there are no taxes on rooms and meals while staying in this area. Since it is on Indian Land which is another large savings. Once the hotel at the casino opens, they will have a lot more competition at the Comfort inn. We expect the prices for rooms to become much more competitive.

More to come on the Akwesasne casino. For more posts about this great location, click here.